Maldives\\\' election chief sacked

The Supreme Court in the Maldives has sacked the country's elections chief and handed him a suspended jail term after he criticised judges during last year's chaotic contest to choose a president. Less than a fortnight before parliamentary elections are due, Chief Commissioner Fuwad Thowfeek and his deputy Ahmed Fayaz were dismissed for "disobeying and challenging" orders issued by the court in its role as "guardian of the constitution". Thowfeek was given a six-month prison sentence, which was suspended for three years, in a decision read out in court late on Sunday, according to afp.